Kinka Ramen Bar — Restaurant in Vienna

I've been a loyal patron since the restaurant’s grand debut—dropping in roughly every two weeks to slurp what might just be Vienna’s most authentic ramen. The broth was so divine I half-expected it to come with a passport stamp. Yet, like a recurring sitcom with a twist ending, a few quirks (icy eggs and karaage that could double as dry toast, and chairs so uncomfortably rigid they feel like relics from a medieval dungeon) have always kept my expectations just a notch below perfection.

Enter the latest episode: a visit with my daughter that turned our ramen rendezvous into a plot twist nobody saw coming. We arrived during a “special event” week—seated without a reservation and all smiles. When I confidently ordered two tonkatsu ramen (yes, I'm that committed, even though I fly to Japan twice a year for culinary research), I was herded over to a mysterious special menu. Spoiler alert: it contained no ramen. The waiter assured us that one of the dishes was very similar to tonkatsu ramen, so we decided to take the plunge and ordered it.

After a wait that would test the patience of a monk, we were served two bowls of what was labeled “Creamy Umami.” One sip later, I realized this wasn’t ramen—it was an imposter dish. The broth bore no resemblance to its ramen ancestors; the ingredients had been swapped out entirely, and the noodles were overcooked into a gooey state that made me wonder if they’d been in a hot tub too long.

Now, despite my lifelong aversion to food waste and a hunger that could rival a sumo wrestler’s, the mediocrity of the flavor convinced both my daughter and me to abort this culinary misadventure and scout for a place where our appetites could truly be satisfied.

It wasn’t until we reached the cashier—after voicing our dismay—that we discovered it was “vegan week.” Not once did the special menu whisper this vital detail, leaving us clueless and, frankly, hungry for real ramen.

So, why the two-star rating? Because while I adore this place on regular days, being duped into a vegan adventure without forewarning is a plot twist I'd rather skip. My daughter and I left disappointed, with our appetites as unfulfilled as the menu’s promises.

Ramen aficionados, consider yourselves warned—if you’re craving authentic noodles, make sure you’re tuning in on a non-vegan week!

PS: I’m attaching the special menu—would you be able to tell it’s all vegan just by...

If there's any place in Vienna that brings back the flavors of the Asian food from my childhood and youth, it's this one. An inconspicuous restaurant, not too small, not too big, just the right size for a quiet, spontaneous afternoon visit. My karaage chicken noodle was simple, mainly just noodles, broth, and golden, crispy fried chicken. There wasn't even any soy-braised egg. And I love that. When a dish isn’t busied with chaotic extras, you can really listen to the craft. The broth was deep, not greasy. Though it’s a chicken broth, it is as gentle as a salt-based broth. You don’t want to disturb it with anything else. The slightly curly wheat noodles were playfully bouncy and light, very much like the texture of Chinese egg noodles at the hawker stalls in my youth. The fried chicken is perfectly seasoned and juicy, as you’d hope for. This kind of simplicity reminds me of my favorite Chinese-Japanese noodle shop back in LA. And that's enough to earn this restaurant a place in my list of favorite ramen spots in Vienna. Possibly even the second place. (And oh, they charge 1 euro for...

The ramen that I had here is just chef's kiss

I spontaneously decided to go here and arrived 1 hour before their closing time. I ordered Pork Miso Ramen and wow, I am so happy that I ultimately decided to eat here that night.

The Pork Miso Ramen is so flavorful, the portion is big enough to be filling, and they definitely did not skimp on the veggies and meat. I cannot even give justice on how good the broth of that ramen in this review - it is just sooo good. I can definitely say this is an instance where I can say, ever single cent was worth it: one of the best 17.something EUR I have ever spent.

This is located away from the bustling streets of Mariahilferstraße but if you are in the area, you must definitely try...